Branded crackers are one of those things people don’t think about until December, and then everyone wants them at once. We sell two kinds, and the question we get asked most is simple: which one should I go for? Here’s the honest answer.
The Two Types We Print
Cardboard crackers are printed flat on 250gsm card, die cut to shape and finished with affix tape so they’re ready to fold. Each one is 350 x 184mm flat and printed in full colour, so your whole design goes edge to edge. You can order as few as 10 and go right up to 10,000, with up to 10 different designs in one order.
Round crackers are the classic tube shape you’d see on a Christmas table. They’re printed in full colour with your design and come in three finishes: flat with a snap, assembled, or flat with no snap. You can order them from 10 up to 100.
When Cardboard Crackers Make More Sense
- You need a lot of them. If you’re doing a big works do, a hotel menu or a mail out, the cardboard ones go up to 10,000.
- You want more than one design. Names on each cracker, different departments, or a few festive designs mixed in.
- You want to fill them yourself with something on brand, like a voucher, a sweet or a little branded gift.
- The design is the main event. The flat print area is big, so logos and artwork really show off.
When Round Crackers Make More Sense
- You want the classic Christmas cracker look on the table.
- It’s a smaller number, like a restaurant’s Christmas menu for a few tables or a family dinner.
- You don’t want to fold anything. Choose assembled and they turn up ready to go.
- You want the bang. Pick the snap option and they pop like the real thing, because they are the real thing.
Leave Enough Time
Round crackers take a bit longer than most of our print, at 7 to 12 working days on standard delivery. Cardboard crackers have their own turnaround on the product page, and every option you choose shows the timing before you pay. Our advice is to have your order in by the middle of November, because the closer it gets to Christmas the busier everyone gets, including the couriers.
Getting The Artwork Right
Keep text and logos away from the ends of the cracker, as that’s where it gets twisted and folded. Go for bold colours and a simple message rather than lots of small writing. If you’re not sure, our artwork guidelines cover bleed and safe areas, and our Design Centre lets you put something together yourself online.
If design isn’t your thing, we can do it for you. Just let us know your logo, colours and any wording and we’ll send over a proof before anything gets printed.
Which One Should You Pick?
If it’s for a table and you want that traditional feel, go round. If you need a big quantity, several designs or you want to fill them yourself, go cardboard. Both are printed by trusted UK print partners and checked in house before they go out.
You can see live prices for both on our Christmas crackers page, just switch between Cardboard and Round at the top. And while you’re getting ready for Christmas, have a look at our gift tags and wrapping paper to finish everything off.
